Huawei steps up its challenge to Microsoft and other OEMs with its latest svelte hybrid device and laptops, the MateBook E, MateBook X and MateBook D.

Huawei has launched its new 2-in-1 MateBook E and its first two laptops

Huawei has announced its second generation of MateBook devices at an event in Berlin. The MateBook E, X and D see the Chinese giant step up its consumer computing device output.

The MateBook E is an update to last year’s original MateBook and runs Windows 10. Also announced were the company’s first laptop devices. The MateBook X is a thin, fanless Core M laptop while the MateBook D is a more business focussed laptop with a full seventh generation Core I processor.

We were in Berlin and had hands-on time with all three devices. Here’s the latest on the new Huawei MateBook range.

When is the Huawei MateBook release date?

All three new MateBooks will be available in North America and China. Other regions will get some of the devices, with Huawei to confirm these soon. The UK will definitely be seeing the new 2-in-1 MateBook E.

A specific release date is yet to be announced but we will update this page as soon as it is.

How much will the Huawei MateBook cost in the UK?

MateBook E

European pricing is as follows:

Core m3/4GB RAM/128GB - €999

Core i5/4GB RAM/256GB - €1199

Core i5/8GB RAM/256GB - €1299

UK pricing is still to be confirmed. The original MateBook from 2016 cost from £749.99, so we’d expect similar pricing to the above European prices if it makes it to the UK. It should.

MateBook X

European pricing is as follows:

Core i5/8GB RAM/256GB - €1399

Core i5/8GB RAM/512GB - €1599

Core i7/8GB RAM/512GB - €1699

As a competitor to the 12in MacBook and Dell’s XPS 13, it’s clear to see that the MateBook X will be pushing above the £1000 mark in the UK. We’ll confirm as soon as we know.

MateBook D

European pricing is as follows:

Core i5/8GB RAM/1TB HDD - €799

Core i5/8GB RAM/128GB SSD+1TB HDD - €899

Core i7/8GB RAM/128GB SSD+1TB HDD - €999

A more traditional laptop, the MateBook D is priced to attempt to enter the student market as well as the business one. This model is the one least likely to see the light of day in the UK, but you can always opt to import.

Huawei MateBook features and specifications

With three new MateBooks to explore there are a lot of numbers and specs flying about. Here is a summary and the headline specs for each one.

MateBook E

The updated MateBook is now called the MateBook E (don’t ask why) and is impressively specced for a 2-in-1 hybrid. It’s also amazingly thin at 6.9mm.

Its base model has a seventh-generation Intel Core m3 processor and runs Windows 10 with an impressive 8GB RAM. There’s also a Core i5 version if need more oomph while both models have a fingerprint sensor on the right edge (see below picture).

The design and innards are largely unchanged. The differences to last year’s version are mainly in the keyboard folio cover, which is included in the box. It has a three-pin rather than seven-pin connector, much like the iPad Pro, and is backlit to two levels.

The hinge of the Microsoft Surface aping folio keyboard cover is also much better, adjusting up to 160 degrees. The hinge is premium and pleasingly stiff, meaning you can angle the device for typing to your preference.

The MateBook E and the MateBook X are the first devices to use Dolby Atmos sound system tech that ekes the best possible sound out of such smaller devices. We heard them at full tilt and were impressed.

It’s available in Champagne Gold and Titanium Grey. There are blue, brown and pink keyboard cover options.

Key specs:

Windows 10

12in 2160x1440 IPS touchscreen, 216ppi

BL-W09: 7th generation Intel Core m3-7Y30

BL-W19: 7th Generation Intel® CoreTM i5-7Y54 processor

Intel HD Graphics 615

4/8GB LPDDR3 RAM

128/256/512GB SSD

5Mp front facing camera

IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4/5GHz 2x2 MIMO

Bluetooth 4.1

4430mAh non-removable battery

6.9 mm x 278.8 mm × 194.1 mm?

640 g (without keyboard), 1100 g (with keyboard)

MateBook X

The base MateBook X runs a seventh-gen Core i5 processor in a fanless design that is also available with a Core i7. Huawei admitted to us that it was going after the 12in MacBook, evident in its design, but has managed here to squeeze a 13in display into a body that is smaller than an A4 page.

There’s a clever fingerprint sensor under the power key that worked very fast in a demo while the 2K screen displayed colours vividly. Huawei claims you can get 10 hours of battery life out of it, which is about what we’d expect from a machine with these specifications. The keys are the same colour as the body of the device.

It has a Dolby Atmos sound system in its long bar speaker that gives pretty much room-filling, crisp audio and is a selling point. Huawei’s COO Wan Biao told us in an interview though that the company’s partnership with Harman Kardon is still ongoing in its tablets, last seen on the MediaPad M3.

It will be available in Prestige Gold, Space Grey and Rose Gold.

Key specs:

Windows 10

13in 2160x1440 IPS non-touchscreen, 200ppi

WT-W09: 7th Generation Intel CoreTM i5-7200U processor

WT-W19: 7th Generation Intel CoreTM i7-7500U processor

Intel HD Graphics 620

4/8GB LPDDR3 RAM

256/512GB SSD

1Mp front facing camera

IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4/5GHz 2x2 MIMO

Bluetooth 4.1

5449mAh non-removable battery

12.5 mm x 286 mm × 211 mm

1.05kg

MateBook D

The MateBook D is the more po-faced of the new products, but Huawei hopes to ease itself into the business space with the high specs and relatively attractive design.

It has small screen bezels for a device with a large 15.6in display, though the matte finish means it is sometimes hard to avoid reflections. The MateBook D also has a dual storage option, meaning users can run two operating systems if they want to thanks to the HDD and SSD running inside.

Huawei told us it sees this device appealing to the small business and campus market, and it most likely will thanks to running Windows 10 Pro as standard.